₦airaland Forum

• VP meets Ministers Malami, Keyamo, Fashola, Lai Mohammed
• Tension in states as congresses take off •Party threatens sanctions for parallel congresses

Worried by the impact of the judgment of the Supreme Court on the fate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday directed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to meet with all ministers who are lawyers in his cabinet.

The move was meant to douse the tension sparked by the minority ruling of the apex court on the legality of actions taken by the party’s Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), headed by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State.

But many of the state chapters of the party were still in the grip of tension last night as they prepared for the ward congresses today.

At least one state, Kwara, may hold parallel congresses despite threat yesterday by the CECPC to sanction any one organising a parallel congress.

Sequel to Buhari’s directive, Osinbajo summoned a session with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), Works Minister Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Minister of State for Labour and Employment Festus Keyamo (SAN) and Information and Culture Minister  Lai Mohammed.

The session debated the status of the CECPC chairman and whether the party should proceed with the ward congresses beginning today.

Buhari was awaiting a feedback from the Vice President to enable him give a clear directive.

A reliable source said the majority of participants at yesterday’s session “spoke in the right direction and supported the suspension of the congresses in order to avoid any consequence on the party’s fortunes in 2023.

“They also favoured a proposal to ask Buni to step aside in the light of the judgment.

“But Malami at the meeting said there won’t be any legal or constitutional obstacles if Buni leads the caretaker committee to conduct the congresses. They were of the strong opinion that the judgment does not affect the status of Buni or APC.

“Those concerned also pleaded that Buni should not be disgraced out of his seat. They demanded an ingenuous way of resolving the aftermath of the judgment of the Supreme Court.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “The VP is expected to get back to the President on the aggregate opinion of the meeting. Although the President mandated him to take appropriate decision, he will still defer to the number one leader.”

The President was yet to take his final decision at press time.

It was also gathered that there had been no communication between the Vice President and Buni on the next step by the party.

However, Buni, in a statement through his Director-General for Press and Media Affairs, Mamman Mohammed, insisted that the Ward Congresses would   go ahead.

He pleaded with APC members nationwide to be peaceful during the congresses.

He asked members to “place the party and members interest above personal interests” and warned that the APC would “not hesitate to take decisive measures against anyone who deliberately sabotages the congresses.”

“We have come a long way repositioning the party. We have reconciled many groups and individuals. We must not allow personal interests in this election to divide us and draw us back,” he said.

Organise parallel congress, get sanctioned, CECPC warns

The Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, in a similar warning, said the party would sanction any individual or group that holds a parallel congress.

Akpanudoedehe reminded all party members and stakeholders of the National Executive Council (NEC) resolution of 8th December 2020, which he claimed subsists and extends to the conduct of party members during the congresses.

He said: “For purposes of clarity, may I re-state the relevant point in the resolution to wit: All pending litigations instituted by members against the party should be withdrawn forthwith, and going forward, no member should institute matters against the party without exhausting the internal mechanism for conflict resolution as enshrined in the party’s constitution.

“Consequent upon the above, party members should please note that:

“(i) All activities that may be carried out by persons to put the party and its officers in a bad light before, during and after the congresses should be jettisoned.

“(ii) All activities or processes leading up to the congresses and thereafter which do not have the approval of the CECPC are exercises in futility. This is to say that: any purported; parallel congress, a parallel party organ, and or parallel party office, is, to say the least, a nullity.

“These divisive activities will not be tolerated.

“(iii) For the avoidance of doubt, the party shall deploy the full weight of the law as stipulated in section 21(D) of our party’s Constitution on anyone who perpetrates such unlawful Act(s) and also on their sponsors.

“All persons who are affected by Article 31 of our Constitution should apply for waivers as stipulated under sub. Section 3 of the said Article 31, is also clearly spelt out in the “Special provisions” of our guidelines.”

Also yesterday, member of the CECPC, Prof. Mamman Tahir, at a press conference at the party’s national secretariat, told newsmen of the resolve of the committee to go ahead with the exercise, having obtained the approval of the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

He said the party relied on the office of the Attorney General of the Federation for guidance and it was convinced that the party was doing the right thing.

His words: “I am here to reconfirm that our Congresses are on course to hold tomorrow and this Committee is working closely with the Attorney-General of the Federation. And he has offered advice that we are on good ground and we are comfortable with that position. So our programmes will continue to roll on in the normal course of things.

“So we want to assure teeming members of the APC across the country to come out and elect officers at the ward level. This party believes so much in grassroots politics, grassroots democracy; that is the strength of the party.

“So we encourage all members to come out tomorrow and elect leaders of their choice at that level before we move to the next stage of our democratisation process and constitution of the leadership of the party.

“This is in a nutshell the message from the party and the Secretariat. That the court hasn’t made any pronouncement or any judgement that undermines our position. And you don’t go into speculating what the courts will do in the future. So, we’re comfortable with our position.”

It was also learnt that governors elected on the platform of the APC held an emergency meeting in Abuja on Thursday night to review the situation, and proceeded to endorse the position of the CECPC

The meeting, which took place at the Asokoro residence of one of the governors, also resolved to call for a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) as soon as the President returns from his UK trip.

Kwara APC set for parallel congress on Saturday

Loyalists of Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed in the Kwara State chapter of the party said yesterday that they had secured nomination forms for all its aspirants in the state.

The caretaker legal adviser of the party in the state, Barrister Ladi Mustapha, told reporters in Ilorin that the Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa-led faction was prepared for the congresses provided every other thing remains constant.

He said the Bashir Bolarinwa Omolaja-led executive of the party had notified relevant agencies as required by the Electoral Act 2006 (As Amended).

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Supreme Court ruling on Jegede Vs. Rotimi Akeredolu Governorship election should be bold enough on the wall of justice that Hon. Bashir Ọmọlaja Bolarinwa’s chairmanship is as solid, in law, as the Rock of Gibraltar,” he said.

Court stops APC congresses in Imo

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday warned the APC to desist from proceeding with today’s ward congresses in Imo State pending the hearing of a suit filed by Okey Anyikwa, APC Chairman in Ideato South Local Government Area.

The Applicant had approached the Court for an injunction restraining the APC from going ahead with the congresses because of the judgment of the Appeal Court that upheld the tenure of the State EXCO elected in 2018.

Justice Valentine Oriji threatened to invalidate the outcome of congresses should the party disregard the position of the Court.

Oriji ordered that all actions regarding the APC congresses in the state should be stayed, pending the hearing of the application slated for August 10.

Ward congress in open contest, says Uzodinma

But Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State said the congresses would be based on the party’s guidelines that make the process an open contest.

He said the exercise should be devoid of writing and submission of list of favoured members by party leaders.

He said that the congress must be that of the people and for the people and that the least that can be tolerated is affirmation of preferred candidates by the people in line with the APC guidelines.

The governor spoke on Friday at the Government House Owerri during a stakeholders meeting of leaders of the party drawn from the 27 LGAs of the state.

He seized the opportunity to congratulate the APC leaders for their solidarity and show of interest in the affairs of the party so far, thanking all for the successes recorded in the past one year and the synergy and harmonious relationship currently being experienced in the party.

Governor Uzodimma informed that the APC in Imo State today represents a new order of inclusiveness, poised to work together to win all elections in the state.

APC sues for peaceful congress in Lagos

Ahead of the ward congresses, the national leadership of the APC yesterday implored leaders and members to cooperate with one another to ensure a peaceful congress in Lagos State.

Speaking during a stakeholders meeting organised by the APC National Committee on Ward Congress for Lagos State with party leaders in Ikeja yesterday, the committee chairman, Dr. Bashiru Ruwangodiya, said the congresses would be done in line with the guidelines set by APC Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) for election of 26 ward executives in each of the 377 wards in Lagos State.

Party executives who are expected to emerge through the ward congresses in the 377 wards in Lagos on Saturday are: Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Legal Adviser, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Youth Leader, Women Leader and Auditor, among others.

Ruwangodiya said  the the mode of electing the party executives at ward level is either through consensus or election as stipulated by the party’s constitution, adding that the winner would be determined by simple majority of votes cast.

However, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, said the party had agreed on a consensus arrangement for its ward executives.

Oladejo said the consensus arrangement was agreed at the stakeholders meetings held in all the 20 local government areas (LGAs) and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs).

According to him, stakeholders in each of the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs agreed on consensus arrangement to produce ward executives in order to engender unity.

“The meeting was sequel to the directive of the National Caretaker Committee to bring all party leaders and members together to rub minds on the forthcoming congresses towards achieving cohesion and acceptable consensus.

“The various meetings agreed on the desirability of a consensus arrangement that will consider all interests and unite the party as we count down to the next national elections,” Oladejo said.

The spokesman said that stakeholders admonished all members to participate actively in the congresses and uphold party discipline at all times.

Oladejo said the event at various council areas gave the newly elected local government chairmen, vice-chairmen and councilors opportunity to express their commitment and appreciation to the party for the mandate to serve the people.

APC youths protest in Osun over consensus congress

Scores of APC members in Osun State under the aegis of Youth Wings yesterday protested against the arrangement for today’s ward congresses. The protesters claimed they had no access to nomination forms for the various elective offices.

The protesters moved from Aregbe junction at about 4 pm to Ogo-Oluwa area with placards and banners, chanting democracy songs. The protest led to a gridlock on the road.

Some of the placards carried inscriptions such as: “We say no to consensus”; “We want free and fair congress”; “We say no to imposition”; and “We say no to party members’ harassment”.

 

We were not hijacked – Chairman Osun APC Congress Committee

The Chairman of APC, Osun State Congress Committee, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye yesterday denied a rumour that he and other committee members were kidnapped by bandits or hijacked by some people in the state.

Elegbeleye during a meeting with Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and other party leaders in the state ahead of the ward congresses said logistics forced them to arrive the state late.

“The idea that Osun Committee members have been kidnapped is a lie. I have not been kidnapped by any bandit. We are just arriving in your state. Nobody kidnapped us,” he said.

Governor Oyetola stressed that the congresses should not be used to create problems in the party and that is why the National Secretariat advised the way of consensus.

Earlier, the APC Caretaker Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun explained that “as recommended by the National Secretariat we have adopted consensus in Osun for the purpose of the smooth running of the party.

“Things have been properly done. Our homework has been done properly. Our fathers and leaders have scrutinised the 332 wards that we have in Osun.

“We have concluded the exercise that will lead us to a very good congress tomorrow. The state government has provided adequate security across the state. We are peace-loving.”

Consensus list ready in Ondo

The list of party ward executives to be affirmed during the ward congresses of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State is ready.

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and other stakeholders of the Ondo APC had agreed to conduct the congresses using the consensus method.

The purpose was to avoid rancorous elections that might lead to litigations and factions.

It was gathered that the Ondo APC also set up committees to look into complaints of some members that they were not carried along in compiling the list.

Acting Chairman of Ondo APC, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, said the ward congresses would be conducted in a family way.

Adetimehin said leaders of the party want to remain united after the congresses.

He said the Supreme Court ruling affirming the election of Governor Akeredolu has further united the party.

Abe asks loyalists to boycott ward congress

A former Senator representing Rivers South East, Mr. Magnus Abe, yesterday asked his loyalists in the party to boycott the congresses in the interest of peace and tranquility.

Abe is currently locked in a battle for the soul of the party in the state with Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi.

Addressing his supporters in Port Harcout ahead of the congress, Abe said that all efforts to restore peace within the party in the state had failed.

He appealed to them to bury the hatchet and allow peace to prevail during the exercise while he continues to engage the national leadership of the party on settling the issues.

Amaechi loyalists accuse Abe of trying to stop congresses

The Rotimi Amaechi faction of the APC in the state yesterday accused the faction led by Senator Abe of plotting to stop the congresses of the party in the state through a court order.

The APC faction, through its spokesman, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, claimed that at about 4 pm yesterday, members of Abe’s Unity House in the company of their lawyers were spotted at the premises of the Judiciary in furtherance of the plot.

Nwuke said: “We have learnt that at about 4pm today, Friday, 30th July, 2021, Senator Abe’s lawyers were filing papers to stop the APC from going along with its planned congress as approved by the National Secretariat.

“We have further learnt that the Chief Judge of the State who was still within the court premises may any moment from now assign the matter to a judge who would be expected to issue a restraining order.

“We are not surprised by the existence of the plot which was put to the test before the 2019 elections by Senator Magnus Abe and his external collaborators.

“It has become necessary to inform members of the public, including our teeming supporters, of the existence of the plot that is being hatched to obstruct the conduct of the congress.

“It is quite clear by now that each time the APC plans to deepen its internal democracy through processes that would enable members test their popularity, certain paper tigers in our midst who lack active grassroots support connive with their friends in the other party to file frivolous cases.

“In the meantime, we urge our members to remain calm. We wish to assure the people of Rivers State, particularly our supporters, that no matter how long it takes to obtain justice, our party shall secure legal reliefs, which would guarantee the right of our members to pursue their legitimate aspirations. This is our promise.”

Group begs ex-senate president, Nnamani, to save Enugu APC

A group in Enugu State, APC Grassroots Vanguards, yesterday appealed to former Senate president, Dr. Ken Nnamani, to use his position to save the party from collapse in the state.

The group, which said it was not satisfied with the situation of things in the party in the state, appealed to Nnamani to ensure “a total shift to more result oriented individuals who are willing to pay the supreme price of not compromising the party faithful’s aspirations”.

Chairman of the group, Hon Nsude Oguejiofor, said: “It’s time to say no to impositions and planting of fake people as APC leaders who are APC in the morning but PDP during the night. We’re optimistic that a new dawn will be here in Enugu APC and with the team on board, including the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Geoffrey Onyeama our leader, the ugly rhetoric in the activities of the party will be a thing of the past”.

Akwa Ibom APC elders kick against consensus

Elders of the APC in Akwa Ibom State kicked against consensus arrangement for the planned congresses.

The APC elders said the consensus arrangement was unpopular and not in the best interest of the party.

They said only an elective congress would unite and strengthen the party ahead of the 2023 elections in the state.

In a communique at the end of a meeting in Uyo, the APC Elders accused the Acting National Secretary of the party, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, of manipulating the activities of the party in the state for his own personal benefit.

Kriss216:
Helinues, Yes, another Northerner will take over and there's nothing you, Tinibu and Osibanjo will do about it!

The faction of the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress loyal to Senator Magnus Abe has announced a boycott of the party’s ward congresses beginning on Saturday (today).

Members of the faction accused the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, of masterminding the exclusion of their supporters from participating in the exercise.

Abe, a former senator representing Rivers South-East at the National Assembly, made the accusation in Port Harcourt on Friday, while addressing his supporters across the 23 local government areas of the state.

He said, “There is really no crisis in this party. The crisis in the party is that the minister (Amaechi) said anybody who is with Senator Abe is no longer a member of the APC and cannot be entitled to any opportunity or privilege within the APC.

“I want to say I have had a series of meetings with the national leadership and it is determined that there will be justice for party members in Rivers State. Don’t take the law into your own hands. Since you were not given forms and allowed to take part in the congresses, leave it.

“We will follow the party process and we will formally complain to the national leadership that this is what has happened. Since they didn’t give you forms, don’t go and waste your time. Remain calm. We will get to where we are going. We will follow the directives of the national leadership of our party.”

He noted that he had always been an advocate of inclusiveness in the affairs of the party at the state level and would remain one.


In response, the state APC spokesman, Ogbonna Nwuke, dismissed the allegations. Nwuke, who is Amaechi’s close ally, said, “The whole thing is a complete hoax and lies coming from a man who is well-placed like Senator Magnus Abe.

“The APC has promised to provide a level playing field for all. That means members of Abe’s faction who equally bought forms to participate in the congresses are free to do so.

“But we are aware that because the senator knows that this time, he is merely a paper tiger who has no support at the grassroots, it becomes necessary for him to tell all kinds of lies in an attempt to create a wrong impression of a peaceful process.

“So, for us, we think that the public, particularly our supporters and all well-meaning people who are part of the APC, should ignore the call by Senator Magnus Abe.”

In Osun, some party members staged a peaceful protest against alleged refusal of the congress committee overseeing the exercise to hold a meeting with all stakeholders.

The protesters, led by an ex-parliamentarian, Rasheed Raji, insisted on going to their various wards to hold congress, as against the plan by the Ileri Oluwa-led group, said to enjoy the support of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, which is insisting on a consensus arrangement for all positions.

They armed themselves with placards with inscriptions such as ‘We say no to consensus,’ ‘Osun progressives’ women and youths demand APC Congress forms,’ and ‘We say no to imposition.’

The demonstrators, who protested along Osogbo/Gbongan road, said they decided to change their plan to march to the party secretariat because hoodlums had been stationed near the premises to attack them.

Addressing journalists, Raji said, “A consensus arrangement is no longer possible in Osun. We have obtained forms but our members have not been invited to any meeting. We insist that there must be an election.”

In a similar vein, party supporters under the aegis of The Osun Progressives called on security agencies in the state to protect their members.

The Chairman of the group, Lowo Adebiyi, who spoke to journalists in Osogbo, expressed fear that some members of the group might be attacked.

However, the state Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee, Gboyega Famoodun, announced the adoption of a consensus arrangement for the election of ward leaders.

Famoodun spoke in Osogbo on Friday at a meeting of the congress committee for the state with the party stakeholders in Osun Government House.

He said, “As recommended by the National Secretariat, we have adopted a consensus mode in Osun for the smooth running of the exercise. Things have been properly done; our homework has been done properly.

“Our fathers and leaders have scrutinised the 332 wards that we have in Osun. We have concluded the exercise that will lead us to a very good congress tomorrow.”

In his brief remarks, the Chairman of the Congress Committee for the state, Mr Gbenga Elegbeleye, said he arrived in the state Friday evening and dismissed insinuations that the committee had been prevented from meeting all stakeholders.

In his goodwill message, Oyetola assured party members of adequate security across the state and called on all stakeholders to ensure a hitch-free ward congress.

Also, an Ekiti State governorship aspirant on the platform of the party, Reuben Famuyibo, on Friday, expressed fear that parallel ward congresses could take place because forms were being sold by two different sources.

Famuyibo, who spoke to reporters in Ado Ekiti, said, “In view of what is going on, there may be question marks on the credibility of our congress in Ekiti State, based on how they arrived at the names and who got the forms.”

He added, “Even based on the Supreme Court judgment on the Ondo State governorship election where the court has said you cannot be the chairman of a party when you are governor, something has to be done. This is the same person that is conducting the congresses. I think the best thing would have been to put a hold on this election and do a proper thing.

“On Saturday, we may have two conflicting groups. As at today (Friday), people who have forms got such from either Fayemi’s aides or from the Abuja group. There is likely to be a parallel congress.”

But the APC State Publicity Director, Sam Oluwalana, argued that Famuyibo’s claims were untrue. He said, “What those people say is false. What they planned was for them to have access to some forms and conduct a parallel congress, but they failed.

Meanwhile, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, on Friday, asked the ruling party to go ahead with the ward congresses as planned.

Omo-Agege, in a statement titled ‘Why There is Nothing Stopping the APC Ward Congresses Scheduled for Saturday, 31st July, 2021,’ said, “I have, however, taken time to critically digest and juxtapose the divergent views on the issue and come to realise that the mischief-makers propagating confusion aimed at misleading our party into a state of disarray did not study the petition filed by Jegede at the lower court.

Parallel congress looms in Kwara, Ogun

There was confusion on Friday among members of the Ogun and Kwara State chapters of the party as factional leaders prepared to hold the congresses independent of one another.

Supporters of Governor Dapo Abiodun and his predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, were both seen preparing to hold the congresses.

A stakeholder meeting of the party leaders failed to agree on modalities for the congresses, as of Friday. None of the factions interacted with the media on what form or shape the congresses would take.

However, the WCC set up by the APC National Secretariat arrived in Abeokuta on Friday and announced modalities for the conduct of the Ward Congress in the 236 wards across the state.

This was contained in a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, on Friday. He quoted the Chairman of the committee, Chief Wale Ohu, as announcing the modalities.

According to the statement, the exercise will commence at 9am on Saturday with the accreditation of party members at designated points in each of the 236 wards of the state.

In Kwara, the two major factions in the state chapter of the party expressed preparedness for the exercise. The state Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee, Alhaji Abdullahi Samari, appealed to all party members to conduct themselves peacefully.

Also, members of the party loyal to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said they were prepared for the congress and had purchased nomination forms from the committee sent by the party’s National Secretariat to oversee the congresses in the state.

Meanwhile, the Kogi State chapter of the party, on Friday, announced that it was opting for a consensus in electing leaders at the ward level.

Governor Yahaya Bello, who was represented by his deputy, Edward Onoja, at a stakeholder meeting of the party in Lokoja, warned members against going against the directive. It was also agreed that persons who must occupy the office of youth leader must not be more than 35 years old.

APC ignores Keyamo’s advice as Malami gives green light

The Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee of the party said it was going ahead with the exercise, based on the advice of the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and its legal team.

It was announced in Abuja, on Friday, that the congresses would be held in 33 out of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, while those of Zamfara, Kwara and Anambra states were put on hold until a date to be announced later.

A former Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof Mamman Tahir, who is also a member of the CEONCPC, spoke at a media briefing, saying there was nothing preventing the exercise from going ahead as planned.

He said, “I am here this afternoon to reconfirm that our congresses

are on course to hold tomorrow. This committee is working closely with the Attorney General of the Federation who has offered advice that we are on good ground and we are comfortable with our position. So, our programmes will continue to roll on in the normal course of things.”

Earlier, the party’s National Secretary, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, warned members against flouting its rules.

Akpanudoedehe warned that the party would bring the full weight of its constitution on “any member or group” who organises “any purported parallel congress, parallel party organ and or parallel party office.”

He reminded all party members and stakeholders of the National Executive Council resolution of December 8, 2020.

The APC secretary said the resolution still “subsists and extends to the conduct of party members during the congresses. For purposes of clarity, may I re-state the relevant point in the resolution to wit:

“All pending litigations instituted by members against the party should be withdrawn forthwith, and going forward, no member should institute matters against the party, without exhausting the internal mechanism for conflict resolution, as enshrined in the party’s constitution.”

He further said, “Consequent upon the above, party members should please note that: (i) All activities that may be carried out by persons to put the party and its officers in bad light, before, during and after the congresses should be jettisoned.

“(ii) All activities or processes leading up to the congresses and thereafter which do not have the approval of the CECPC are exercises in futility. This is to say that: any purported; parallel congress, parallel party organ and or parallel party office, is to say the least a nullity. These divisive activities will not be tolerated.”

PDP mocks party, says S’Court judgment invalidates leadership

In a press conference denouncing the APC for going ahead with the congresses despite informed legal advice against doing so, the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kola Ologbondiyan, said, “APC is invalid, it carries the burden of ‘Let Buyer Beware.’

“The PDP alerts Nigerians and the international community that the APC has become technically invalidated and now lacks the statutory structure to operate as a political party in our country.

“This is given the pronouncement of the Supreme Court, which clearly pointed to the nullity of APC’s subsistence and activities as a political party, for having a sitting governor, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, as its Chairman, in total violation of Section 183 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) as well as the provisions of Article 17(4) of the APC constitution.

“The fate of the APC as a defunct party is already sealed and the party cannot come out of this self-inflicted quagmire even if it engages in the drama of appointing a new National Chairman in place of Mai Mala Buni.”

The PDP advised “all aspirants for the planned APC ward, local government and state congresses as well as the national convention to note that the APC is now in a state of “let the buyer beware”.

APC chieftain prays court to stop congress

An APC chieftain, Kalu Agu, on Friday, approached an Abuja High Court to seek for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the party from proceeding with the ward congress scheduled for July 31, and subsequent local government, state, zonal congresses and the national convention of the party.

In the suit marked CV/812/2021 dated July 29 and filed on Friday, the two defendants are the APC and Mai Mala Buni.

In the court process seen by our correspondent, Agu is also praying the court to declare that the APC is bound to uphold its constitution, the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, and the Electoral Act in administering the affairs of the party.

He prayed the court to determine whether the party can conduct a ward congress when there is no elected Ward Executive Committee of the party.

Kalu also sought “an order of mandatory injunction setting aside any decision, act, steps, notifications taken or made out for the purpose of holding any ward, local government, state, zonal congresses or national Convention of the 18 Defendant directed at the election of officers of the 1st Defendant at any level of the political structure in Nigeria created by the constitution of the 1st Defendant.”

Court halts congress in Bayelsa

Meanwhile, a Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has stopped the APC from conducting its ward congresses scheduled to hold on Saturday (today) across the state.

The presiding judge, Justice Iniekenimi Uzaka, issued the order on Friday pending the determination of a motion on notice before the court.

Uzaka adjourned the matter to August 9 for hearing.

The state chapter of the APC is polarised along two factions loyal to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, and a former Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.

While the Sylva faction is chaired by Jothan Amos, the Lokpobiri’s group is headed by one Ebierien Fala Itubor.

Before the court gave the order, the two factions were busy preparing for the congress at their parallel secretariats near Baybridge Road junction and Dimrose Road, respectively, in Yenagoa.

Also, participation forms had been distributed to each ward at the two secretariats to be filled and submitted by candidates.

Both Itubor and the acting Secretary of Sylva’s camp, Alabo Martin claimed that their camps had the backing of the APC National Committee.

Martin had also claimed that stakeholders of the party met and adopted consensus option of affirmation to elect the ward executives.

Meanwhile, there was controversy over the report of Abuja court court injunction stopping the APC from holding the congress in Imo State.

However, Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify the report.

An alleged mentally unstable man has been beaten to a pulp by residents of Mowe in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State for allegedly being in possession of a huge sum of money and three phones.

It was gathered that the suspect, who stays under the bridge in the area on the pretext of being mentally unstable, was on a call with an unknown person on Thursday when the residents caught him.

PUNCH Metro learnt that when he was asked by the residents where he got the phone from, he could not give a satisfactory answer.

An attempt by the man to escape was prevented and checks on his belongings revealed the sum of N250,000, three iPhones and women underwear, which made the residents to beat him to a pulp.

An eyewitness, who identified himself simply as Ade, said he and his friends were placing a bet under the bridge when they saw the suspect making a phone call.

He said, “I was playing lotto with my friends under the bridge when we noticed that the supposed mentally unstable man was making a call; I tried to move close to him, but when he saw that I was coming, he tried to escape.

“My friends on the other side of the road, who were watching us, crossed the road to join me and we asked him to sit down and searched his bags and found three more phones, the sum of N250,000, and pants and bras belonging to women.

“He had been at the Mowe bus stop for long and when some passers-by saw what we found on him, they pounced on him and beat him. We later handed him over to the police, but policemen at the Mowe Police Division said they could not accommodate a lunatic in their station. Only God knows who he was calling.”

A trader in the area, identified simply as Yetunde, said the suspect was beaten when he refused to disclose who he was talking to on the phone.

She said, “When he was asked who he was talking to, he refused to talk; it was the annoyance that made people to start beating him and wondering where a lunatic got such amount of money, phones and women pants and bra from. This is an eye-opener to everyone in Mowe. Only God knows how many atrocities he has committed in Mowe.

“Probably he is working with ritualists, because I don’t know where he got the money and the phones, and maybe the underwear belong to women he raped or killed and sold their body parts.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said he would find out and get back to our correspondent, but he had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

Senate Chief Whip Orji Uzor Kalu has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to consider holding the 2023 general elections on the same day.

He said this would reduce cost and rigging.

Kalu said the presidential election, National Assembly, governorship and House of Assembly elections are better held simultaneously on the same day rather than holding them on different days.

A statement he personally signed in Abuja reads: “INEC should conduct the 2023 elections same day as staggered elections are unnecessarily expensive. The conduct of the elections in different days gives room for rigging, thuggery and several vices. It also puts the lives of the voters and INEC officials in intense danger.


“When elections are conducted on the same day, popular candidates will emerge because everyone will be busy in their polling units and zones, unlike on different days. The cost of running two days’ elections will also reduce.

“To deepen our democracy, we need to get the elections right. When leaders with genuine interests of the people are voted to power, they provide exceptional leadership and infrastructure to their people.”

Kalu, a former Abia State governor and first-time senator, was, in June, bestowed with the prestigious Senate award for constituency development in recognition of his impressive representation and expeditious implementation of constituency projects in his Abia North at the Senate Press Corps 2021 award ceremony.

An Imo State High Court sitting in Owerri has declared Chukwuma Umeoji as the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State, asking the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise him as such.

Justice B. C. Iheka made the declaration on Wednesday in the order he issued on the suit filed by Chike Dike against the Independent National Electoral Commission, All Progressives Grand Alliance and Jude Okeke, as the first, second and third respondents, respectively.

A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Chukwuma Soludo, had emerged the candidate of the Victor Oye-led APGA faction loyal to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State.

But Justice Iheka, in his judgment on the case with Suit Number: HOW/543/2021, declared that, “The plaintiff’s claims are hereby dismissed.”

The judgment, a certified true copy of which our correspondent sighted, partly read, “The third defendant is entitled to consequential orders, and I declare and order as follows: that the third defendant is a valid member of the second defendant and, therefore, based on Article 7(4) of the Constitution, the second defendant is entitled to all the rights and privileges pertaining to such membership.

“That the National Convention of APGA held at Owerri, Imo State, 31st May, 2019, is valid, lawful and in accordance with the orders of the court and the law.


Justice Iheka further ruled that, “the suspension of the former National Chairman of the party, Edozie Njoku, is valid and subsisting, and in compliance with the party constitution.”

Against the backdrop of insinuations that United States’ lawmakers are putting pressure on the President Joe Biden administration to halt the delivery of the remaining six Super Tucano Aircraft and subsequent sale of military hardware to Nigeria, security sources have said the Federal Government was not perturbed as all necessary agreement indices reached on government-to-government basis were adhered to.

According to the reports, the lawmakers’ opposition was based on President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s perceived human rights abuse, the #Endsars protests of 2020 that ended in crisis and banditry.

Reports had noted that US lawmakers on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee called for delayed clearing of another batch of 12 AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters and accompanying defence systems to be sold to the Nigerian military to further strengthen the country’s fight against terrorism.

The deal is worth $875 million according to US officials and congressional aides familiar with the matter.

Nigeria/US militaries now closer— US envoy

Meanwhile, the US Chargé d’Affaires, Kathleen FitzGibbon, had stated on Tuesday, during an inspection of the six A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft, that the aircraft represented a historic level of cooperation achieved between the US and Nigerian militaries.

She said: “Beyond the new hardware that you see on this runway, this programme has brought our two militaries closer in formal training, professional development, air base construction, logistics planning, and negotiations.

“We are proud to partner with Nigeria in its ‘whole of government’ approach to end violent extremism and ensure a more stable, prosperous country for all Nigerians.”

On her part, US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard had welcomed the pilots and aircraft to Massachusetts, during the first leg of their trans-Atlantic flight to Nigeria.

The next six aircraft are scheduled for delivery later in September this year.

A statement by the US Embassy Authorities said: “The Super Tucano platform for Nigeria is the United States’ largest Foreign Military Sales programme in Sub-Saharan Africa, valued at almost $500 million.

“This programme follows the Department of Defence’s ‘Total Package Approach’ model and includes spare parts for several years of operation, contract logistics support, munitions, and a multi-year construction project to improve Kainji’s infrastructure.

“The Super Tucano is a dual-pilot turboprop aircraft built as a workhorse combat air platform, equipped for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and for precision air-to-ground strike missions.

“Through this programme, the U.S. Air Force’s 81st Fighter Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, trained Nigerian pilots and maintenance crews to U.S. standards.

“Training also emphasises the Law of Armed Conflict and Civilian Casualty Mitigation, which are fundamental principles of the Nigerian military’s professional education and training.

“With the A-29 Super Tucano purchase, the Nigerian Air Force also has become a founding member of the U.S. Air Force’s ‘Combined Light Attack Experiment,’ which is developing Light Attack global best-practice tactics and doctrine for the 21st century.”

However, senior security sources told Vanguard that allegations of atrocities being cited as reasons by the lawmakers have not been proven.

Therefore, they said, the allegations cannot be used as a front to halt pre-existing negotiation and understandings on the purchase of military hardware.

The US government is solidly behind Nigeria’s effort to free the country of myriads of security challenges, especially banditry, kidnapping and ISWAP/Bọkọ Haram terrorism.

Young Nigerians in 12 states are to benefit from a multi-collaborative scheme between the Federal Government and UNICEF.

Lagos and Kano states are to serve as the takeoff points of the scheme that would be inaugurated July 26 by Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo and the UN agency.

Known as Generation Unlimited (GenU), the innovative programme is targeted at young Nigerians aged 10 and 24.

Two million of them in the age bracket are expected to benefit from the scheme by  2023 and 20 million by 2030 in the areas of  education, skills training, employment, entrepreneurship, and empowerment.


The other states where the young Nigerians would be drawn for the first phase are Ogun, Rivers, Cross River, Enugu, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Borno,  Bauchi, Benue, and Niger.

GenU  is a global multi-sector partnership that was initially launched in September 2018, in collaboration with over 200 partners.

It has reached, to date, more than 100 million young people globally through innovations and programmes in more than 40 countries across six continents.

Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos),  Abdullahi  Ganduje (Kano) and  Godwin Obaseki(Edo)  as well as UN Resident Coordinator. Edward Kallon are expected to grace the inauguration of GenU Nigeria.

GenU Nigeria has a wide range of development partners, including the African Development Bank, GIZ, ILO, UNDP, USAID and Private Sector Organisations.

Some of the private sector organisations are Airtel, Jobberman, Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Microsoft, University of Cambridge, Boston Consulting Group and UBA Foundation.

Other African countries currently participating in the GenU partnership include Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa and the Niger Republic.